Submarine-growth cutter.



a. -L. WELCH. suMAva'lNE GROWTH CUTTER. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2.1916. 152699139., Patented June 11, 1918.

' 2 SHEETS-#SHEET 1.

a. L. WELCH. SUBMARINE GROWTH CUTTER. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2.19I6.

Patented June 11, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ROBERT L. WELCH, OF WILLIAMS, CALIFORNIA.

SUBMARINE-GROWTH CUTTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 11, 1918.

Application filed November 2, 1916. Serial No. 130,300.

To all iti/wm t may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT L. VELCH, a citizen of the United States, residing at l/Villiams, in the county of Colusa and State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Submarine-Growth Cutters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to submarine growth cutter wherein horizontal and -inclined cutting mechanisms operate to clear a submerged path for boats and the like; and the objects of my invention are- First, to provide an improved submarine growth cutter;

Second, to provide improved means of the character described that may be readily and easily submerged or emerged;

Third, to provide an improved device of the character described having mea-ns whereby the same may be raised or lowered in an operative position to various elevations; and

liourth, to provide an improved device of the character described that shall be simple and cheap in construction and operation and also possessing a maximum efficiency.

l accomplish these several objects by means of the preferred form yof the device disclosed in the drawings forming a part of the present specification wherein like characters of reference are used to designate similar parts throughout the said specification and drawings, and in which- Figure 1 is a` side elevation of the bow of a boat disclosing my invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a broken vertical section, on an enlarged scale, 'of the lower portion of the device disclosing the manner in which both cutting mechanisms are operated from the same power shaft.

Fig. 4 a bottom plan view of Fig. 2 disclosing the manner in which the horizontal cutter bar is operated.

Fig. 5 is an venlarged transverse sectional view taken on line X-X of Fig. l inV the direction indicated by the arrows.

This device is intended to cut submerged paths through marshes where tules, submarine growths and the like flourish to such an extent that boats and other water crafts are prevented from passing therethrough, or where such passage is impeded by reason of such growth.

The hereinafter described invention while intended to be submerged when in an operative position is also capable of being not only raised to any desired elevation when submerged but also of being emerged from the water or inclined at various angles.

Referring now to the drawings the numeral l is used to designate the bow of a boat or the like to which is secured plate 2 having an inclined sleeve 3 pivotally mounted thereon.

A tubular member 4 is slidably and rotatably mounted within the sleeve 3 and is normally held against movement relatively to the sleeve 3 by means of a split ring 6 secured to said sleeve 3 and arranged to be expanded or contracted to engage or disengage the tubular member 4 by means of a securing latch 7.

The upper end of the tubular member 4 is provided with suitable handles 8 by means of which said members 4 may be raised or lowered or partially rotated within the sleeve 3.

The tubular member 4 is also provided with a slot 9 having an inclined cutting mechanism in the shape of serrated teeth l1 arranged adjacent said slot 9. A serrated cutting bar 12 is slidably mounted within the slot 9 to operate in conjunction with the serrated teeth 11 and is provided with a pair of sleeves 14 having annular inclined cam slots 16 therein engaged by pins 17 on a shaft 18 rotatably mounted within the tubular member 4.

The lower end of the shaft 1S is operatively connected to a vertically disposed shaft 19, having a disk 21 and pin 22 thereon, by means of a suitable universal joint 23.

The disk 21 and shaft 19 are arranged to operate the horizontally disposed cutting mechanism which comprises a. bar 24 having teeth 25 upon which is slidably mounted a cutting bar 26 having teeth 27 arranged to operate in conjunction with the teeth 25 o-f the bar 24.

The cutting bar 26 is provided with a central or operating slot 28 arranged to be engaged by the rotating pin 22 of the rotating disk 21 whereby said cutting bar 26 may be continually reciprocated.

Longitudinally disposed slots 29 within the cutting bar 26 are arranged to receive suitable pins 32 secured to the bar 24 whereby said cutting bar 26 may be slidably held in position.

The shaft 1S is operatively connected at its upper end to a flexible drive shaft 33 whereby said shaft and both cutting mechanisms may be operated.

The operation is as ollows:

Assuming the parts to be in an operative position as disclosed in Fig. l ot the drawings it is obvious that as the shaft 1S within the tubular member is rotated a reciprocating movement will be imparted to both cutting bars l2 and QG which operating in conjunction with their respective stationary teeth 11 and 25 will operate to cut a submerged path through tules or other submarine growth and thereby provide a clear path tor the passage of water craft.

The upper or inclined cutting mechanism is provided tor the purpose et preventing the debris or growth that has been cut away :trom accumulating on the tubular member 'he depth of the path to be cut may be easily adjusted or predetermined by loosening the securing latch 7 ot the split ring 6 and raising or loweringthe tubular Imember t by means of the handles S on the upper end thereof and again ysecuring the ring 6.

rlhe entire device may be emerged and moved to an inoperative position by elevating the said device on its pivot as disclosed in dotted lines in Fig. 1 ot the drawings.

As the tubular member il is rotatably as well as slidably mounted within the sleeve 3 it is evident that the angle of the lower or submerged cutting mechanism. may be altered by loosening the ring G and partially rotating` the tubular member 4t within the sleeve 3 until the desired angle is attained.

It is obvious from the foregoing that have provided an improved submarine growth cutter adapted to be easily submerged or emerged and to cut a submerged path through tules or other submarine growth thereby rendering navigable marshes and the like.

lt is also obvious that l have provided an improved submarine growth cutter that is simple and cheap in construction and operation and yet possessing a maximum amount ot etliciency.

Having thus described my invention what l claim as new and desire to secure'by Letters Patent is l. A submarine growth cutter comprising Copies of this patent may be obtained for horizontally and vertically disposed cutting mechanisms pivotally and slidably mounted upon the bow of a boat or the like; and means for operating both cutting mechanisms simultaneously.

2. A submarine growth cutter comprising a horizontally disposed cutting mechanism; means for operating the cutting mechanism; and means for pivotally and slidably mounting the cutting means on the bow ot' a boat or the like whereby said cutting means may be submerged below water at various elevations.

3. A submarine growth cutter comprising an inclined sleeve pivotally mounted upon the bow of a boat or the like; a tubular y member slidably and rotatably mounted within the sleeve; means for locking the tubular member within the sleeve; a horizontally disposed cutting mechanism secured to the lower end of the tubular member; and means extending through the sleeve for operating the cutting mechanism.

4L. A submarine growth cutter comprising an inclined sleeve arranged to be secured to the bow ot a boat er the like; a horizontally disposed cutting mechanism; a tubular member slidably mounted within the inclined sleeve and arranged to support the cutting mechanism whereby said cutting mechanism may be submerged and emerged; and means Jfor operating the cutting mechamsm.

5. A submarine growth cutter comprising an inclined sleeve pivotally mounted upon the bow ot a boat or the like; a tubulaimember slidably and rotatably mounted within the sleeve; means adapted to secure the tubular member against movement within said sleeve; an inclined cutting mechanism secured on the tubular member and extending to the lower portion thereof; a horizontally disposed cutting mechanism secured to the lower end of the tubular member; and means extending through the tubular member and operatively connected to both cutting mechanisms whereby same maj.7 be operated.

ln witness whereof I hereunto set my signature.

ROBERT L. l/VELCH.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

'Washingtom-JD. G. 

